Today’s Big Story

The Year in Search

Here's what people Googled, from the election to Copa América

It’s a very telling thing, diving back into your search history, right? So compiling what the world searched for over the past 12 months is certainly a window in our collective soul. Which is why, every December, Google provides an uncanny snapshot of what captivated, worried and inspired us.

After all, Google’s place in popular culture today is undisputed. It’s the biggest internet property in the world, and Google Search is the most visited site. Sure, the rise of Generative AI chatbots and social apps may, one day, eat into Google’s dominance, but for now, it still reigns supreme, and these results serve as a barometer of what the world is curious about at the moment. For 2024, the list of trending search terms is a reflection of a world navigating pivotal political moments, breakout cultural phenomena, and a steady stream of viral hits.

But before we get into the results, it's important to note how “Year in Search” works. TechCrunch reminds us that the results are not simply the most popular Google search terms for 2024. If that were the case, terms like YouTube, Facebook, or the weather would be listed year after year. Instead, Google takes note of trending searches that had a huge spike in popularity over the past year.

So what was everyone searching for? The 2024 U.S. presidential election dominated the charts, as former President Donald Trump secured a historic, second non-consecutive term. Love it or loathe it, his return to the Oval Office has reignited intense conversations, debates and, yes, plenty of Google searches. Beyond the political maelstrom, pop culture juggernauts and athletic events carved out their own space on the leaderboard: It seems significant football tournaments this year captivated people the most, with Copa América and the UEFA European Championship coming out on top.

Sadly, it was bad news driving a lot of searches, too. 2024 also saw the loss of several prominent figures. A top term was for Liam Payne, the One Direction singer who died earlier this year and there was a search surge for Princess Kate, driven by a dramatic and somber cancer revelation early in 2024.

Unsurprisingly, the most-searched actors of the year reflect a mix of comedic icons and rising stars. Topping the list is Katt Williams, whose viral and controversial appearance on Shannon Sharpe's Club Shay Shay podcast landed him back in the spotlight. Jacob Elordi follows at number two, riding high on his breakout performances in Priscilla and Saltburn. Glen Powell and Jeremy Allen White got a lot of people clicking as well.

Ukraine Pushes Forward in Its Fight

What we know on day 1,022 of the war

The U.S. on Tuesday supplied $20 billion to Ukraine, funded by the profits of seized Russian assets. The economic support forms a significant part of a $50 billion package agreed by G7 member nations when announced back in June. Funding the aid through frozen assets means “Russia has to bear the costs of its illegal war, instead of taxpayers,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told the BBC. The announcement comes a matter of weeks before President Joe Biden is replaced by Donald Trump, who has said he wants to end the war in Ukraine quickly upon taking office.

The president-elect has characterized financial support to Kyiv as a drain on American resources, casting doubt on whether aid will continue under the new administration. However, this money will give the country “a critical infusion of support” as it defends itself, Yellen added in a statement on Tuesday. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy made the case earlier in the week for a diplomatic settlement to end the war and raised the idea of foreign troops being deployed in his country until it could join the NATO military alliance. He also told reporters he was hoping to call Biden before he leaves office to discuss NATO membership.

Meanwhile, a Russian missile strike that destroyed a clinic in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia injured dozens and killed at least six people on Tuesday. According to Reuters, Russia has been regularly carrying out airstrikes on Zaporizhzhia and the surrounding region. Last Friday, an attack on the city killed 10 people and wounded more than 20.

Malibu Is Burning

Franklin fire explodes to over 3,000 acres as celebrity residents are evacuated

The photos look apocalyptic. A wildfire, which ignited on Monday, is tearing through swathes of Southern California’s iconic Malibu coastline, forcing residents to flee as flames threaten homes and businesses. The wind off the ocean seems to be making the fire even more powerful—for a time, it burned through an area larger than five football fields every minute.

The inferno is so intense that it’s altering the weather around it and worsening already extreme conditions. “The fire is burning so hot that it is modifying the local winds… (and) bending them towards and into the fire,” the National Weather Service in Los Angeles warned on Tuesday morning. The “stubborn fire” is 0% contained and has drawn some 1,500 firefighters, Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony C. Marrone said at a news conference Tuesday night. He said a preliminary aerial assessment estimates that seven structures were destroyed and eight structures damaged.

Evacuation orders and warnings have gone out to 20,000 Southern California residents as firefighters continued to battle the flames that burned near celebrities’ seaside mansions, horse farms and Pepperdine University, the sheriff’s department said.

Amazon Is a Car Dealership Now

But do Prime members get their sedan delivered overnight?

It was only a matter of time, right? Amazon has officially launched its long-awaited automotive service called Amazon Autos. The retail giant announced the service in late 2023, and now it’s here. Which means, if you’ve been wanting to buy a new Hyundai but you haven’t wanted to deal with a car salesman, now you can simply click “add to cart”.

So far, the Korean automaker is the only manufacturer working with Amazon Autos, though Amazon says it will “roll out” (pun almost certainly intended) services with additional dealerships and manufacturers in 2025. Customers can hop on to Amazon Autos and search for the Hyundai make and model they want, then find vehicles at nearby dealerships with the combination of features they want. Shoppers can select trim, color, and interior options, then get a valuation on their current vehicle to estimate a trade-in price. (Apparently, the site says it’s working with an “independent third party” to determine trade-in values.)

But as modern as this seems, Jalopnik reports that unfortunately, one big downside is that “you still have to go into a dealership to pick up your car, a strange move considering how Hyundai and Amazon originally announced that cars would be able to be delivered to buyers.” Some of the dealers participating do offer delivery service, though there’s no word on how that will work either.

Cool, Cozy Gifts for Homebodies

The perfect presents to improve someone's home life

We spend a lot of time at home during the holidays—really, the whole winter. It's a time for restful relaxation and nesting. Make someone's home even happier with a thoughtful gift that's one part practical and one part luxurious. The key here is to get something they might need, but won't get for themselves. A modern oil diffuser or luxuriously lathering hand soap. Maybe a vintage serving board for the friend who's always hosting. Perhaps a record player for the music buff or a handsome personal heater for the ones who can never get warm during the winter. Here are some of the items our team is giving (and asking for) this season.

Make it happen.